Hallmarking & Silver Standards

Last updated: 19 May 2026
Effective date: 19 May 2026

This page sets out, in full transparency, how Gwyneth Jewellery Limited (Company No. 16481877) handles silver standards, fineness, and UK hallmarking requirements. It is intended both as a customer-facing disclosure and as guidance for our trade customers who resell our pieces to their own end consumers.

Trade customers are required to communicate the substance of this disclosure accurately to their own retail customers. Misrepresenting the hallmarking status of our pieces (for example, describing a sub-threshold piece as "fully hallmarked") may constitute a misleading commercial practice under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.

1. What "925 Sterling Silver" Means

1.1 All Gwyneth Jewellery pieces are made from 925 sterling silver.

1.2 The "925" designation is an international standard meaning the alloy contains, by weight:

  • 92.5% pure silver (Ag);
  • 7.5% other metals, typically copper, used to give the alloy strength and workability.

1.3 925 sterling silver is the standard fineness recognised across the United Kingdom, European Union, and most international jewellery markets. It is distinct from:

  • Silver-plated items (a thin layer of silver over a base-metal core);
  • Nickel silver or German silver (alloys containing no silver at all);
  • Fine silver (999) (pure silver, used in some specialist applications);
  • Britannia silver (958) (a higher-purity alloy used historically).

1.4 We do not supply silver-plated, base-metal, or non-silver pieces. Every piece we sell is solid 925 sterling silver throughout.

2. UK Hallmarking and the 7.78 Gram Threshold

2.1 Hallmarking in the United Kingdom is governed by the Hallmarking Act 1973, which is enforced by the four UK Assay Offices (London, Birmingham, Sheffield, and Edinburgh).

2.2 The Act sets out a weight threshold below which hallmarking is not compulsory. For silver, this threshold is 7.78 grams. Specifically, any silver article weighing less than 7.78 grams of precious metal is exempt from the requirement to be hallmarked before being sold.

2.3 This statutory exemption exists because the cost and process of submitting very small silver pieces for hallmarking would be disproportionate to their value. It is a long-standing legal recognition of the practical realities of small-scale silver craft.

2.4 Every Gwyneth Jewellery piece falls below this 7.78 gram threshold. We deliberately design our range within the sub-threshold weight band, which means our pieces are lawfully exempt from compulsory hallmarking.

3. Why Our Pieces Are Not Hallmarked

3.1 We do not voluntarily hallmark our pieces, for the following reasons:

  • (a) Our pieces are below the 7.78 gram threshold and are statutorily exempt;
  • (b) Voluntary hallmarking of very light pieces is impractical due to physical surface area required for the marks;
  • (c) The cost of voluntary hallmarking would significantly raise the retail price of an otherwise affordable range.

3.2 The absence of a hallmark on our pieces does not mean the silver content is inferior or uncertified. Each piece is solid 925 sterling silver, verified by us through standard silversmith assay practice and supplier documentation for our raw materials.

4. How We Verify Silver Content

4.1 We source raw silver from established UK and EU suppliers who provide:

  • (a) Certificates of analysis confirming 925 fineness;
  • (b) Material safety data sheets;
  • (c) Traceable batch references.

4.2 We retain supplier documentation as part of our records. Trade customers may request a copy of relevant supplier certification for due diligence purposes (subject to redaction of commercially sensitive details).

4.3 If you have specific assay or testing requirements for your retail customers, please contact us before ordering so we can confirm whether they can be met within our standard process.

5. Required Disclosure for Resale

5.1 As a trade customer reselling our pieces to UK consumers, you are responsible for accurate description of the goods under:

  • The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008;
  • The Consumer Rights Act 2015 (where you are selling to consumers);
  • The Hallmarking Act 1973 and related guidance from the British Hallmarking Council.

5.2 You may accurately describe our pieces as:

  • "925 sterling silver";
  • "Sterling silver";
  • "Hand-crafted in the United Kingdom";
  • "Below the UK hallmarking threshold (7.78 grams) and lawfully exempt under the Hallmarking Act 1973";
  • "Solid silver, not silver-plated".

5.3 You must not describe our pieces as:

  • "Hallmarked silver" (incorrect — our pieces carry no hallmark);
  • "Assayed silver" or "Assay Office certified" (we do not submit pieces to the Assay Office);
  • "Fine silver" or "999 silver" (these refer to higher-purity alloys we do not supply);
  • "Silver-plated" or "silver-finished" (incorrect — our pieces are solid silver);
  • Containing gold, platinum, gemstones, diamonds, or any material we have not supplied.

5.4 Where a consumer asks why the piece carries no hallmark, you should respond honestly that the piece is solid 925 sterling silver and is below the 7.78 gram threshold for compulsory hallmarking under the Hallmarking Act 1973. We recommend including this disclosure in your product listings to avoid consumer questions and complaints.

6. The Dealer’s Notice

6.1 UK law requires all dealers in precious metals (whether retail or trade) to display a British Hallmarking Council Dealer’s Notice at the point of sale. This notice explains the meaning of hallmarks and the legal thresholds.

6.2 As a trade customer reselling our pieces, you are responsible for displaying the Dealer’s Notice in your own retail premises (physical or online) where you sell our silver pieces.

6.3 The official Dealer’s Notice template is available free of charge from the British Hallmarking Council (thebhc.org).

7. Trading Standards and Consumer Complaints

7.1 UK Trading Standards services investigate complaints about misleading descriptions of precious metals, including silver.

7.2 Accurate disclosure of fineness and hallmarking status by both us (as supplier) and you (as reseller) is the most effective protection against consumer complaints and regulatory action.

7.3 If you receive a consumer complaint relating to the silver content or hallmarking status of a piece supplied by us, please notify us promptly so we can support your response with supplier documentation.

8. Care and Tarnishing

8.1 Sterling silver naturally tarnishes when exposed to air, moisture, and substances containing sulphur. This is a chemical property of silver, not a defect or quality issue.

8.2 Tarnishing can be reduced by:

  • Storing pieces in an airtight bag or jewellery box with a tarnish-resistant lining;
  • Wearing pieces regularly (skin oils slow tarnish formation);
  • Avoiding contact with perfume, hairspray, chlorinated water, and saltwater;
  • Gentle cleaning with a soft jewellery cloth.

8.3 Tarnish is not a manufacturing defect and is not covered by our Returns or Refund Policies.

9. Nickel Content (Skin Sensitivity)

9.1 Our 925 sterling silver alloy uses copper as the secondary metal. We do not deliberately add nickel.

9.2 Trace amounts of nickel may be present in the alloy from raw material sources but at levels well below the limits set by the EU Nickel Directive (REACH Annex XVII, entry 27), which restricts nickel migration from items in prolonged skin contact.

9.3 Consumers with severe nickel allergies should be advised by retailers to perform a personal patch test before extended wear, as with any silver alloy.

10. Contact

For questions about silver fineness, hallmarking, supplier documentation, or required disclosures, contact:

  • Email: hello@gwynethjewellery.co.uk
  • Telephone: +44 7947 847977
  • Post: Gwyneth Jewellery Limited, 37 Willow Way, Ampthill, Bedford, MK45 2SL, United Kingdom

Useful external resources:

11. Governing Law

This disclosure is governed by the laws of England and Wales. Statements of law in this document are intended for general guidance and should not be relied on as legal advice; trade customers should seek independent legal advice on their own disclosure obligations.

This page was last updated on 19 May 2026.

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